The Sloth Encounter

The day before Phoebe's birthday we went to Tanganyika Wildlife Park.  Phoebe had been wanting to do the Sloth Encounter/Experience, so Eric and I arranged for her to be able to do this for her 11th birthday.  She was excited when we told her a few days in advance that we would all be going on Friday, and she would get to go in with the Sloths.  One of her favorite animals is a Sloth.  When we arrived we had a little time before her Sloth experience would begin, so we looked at a few other animals and fed a few too.  Silas and Eric went out on Lemur Island to feed the Lemurs.  A few Lemurs even came right up into their laps.

Our kids, especially Sarah, always LOVE feeding and petting the goats.

When it was time for our Sloth Encounter Phoebe and I went in with the Zoo Keeper.  The Keeper was kind and very knowledgeable.  He had lots of treats for us to feed the Sloths and encouraged us to pet them gently on their backs.

Phoebe had written down a list of questions that she had about Sloths and she asked the questions that the Keeper did not tell us in his presentation while we interacted with the Sloths.

PHOEBE - "I went to Tanganyika to do the Sloth Experience with Mommy for my birthday.  It was fun.  Silas, Sarah, and Daddy watched us from outside the enclosure.  We learned lots of facts.  We got to pet them and feed them."

"There were two Sloths.  Their names were Molasses and Chewy.  Molasses is a girl and Chewy is a boy.  They felt soft when I pet them.  Chewy liked the fruit we gave him.  We also gave them green beans and pieces of pumpkin.  They were very slow at eating."

"The Zoo Keeper told us lots of facts about Sloths.  He told us that they hang upside down most of their life and their organs readjust.  They live most of their life in a tree.  They sleep a lot.  They can swim.  Their predators are Jaguars, Anacondas, and big birds, like Harpy Eagles."

"Sounds they make are a hissing sound to scare predators, a screaming sound a girl Sloth makes to get a guy, and smacking sounds with their mouth.  They go to the same spot to go to the bathroom, and they only go to the bathroom once a week.  My favorite part was getting to pet them and feed them.  I am so glad to be able to do the Sloth Experience. It is my favorite animal."

Phoebe also got to feed and touch the female Rhino.

Our last animal experience was in with the Lorakeets.  Sarah and Phoebe each had food for them and were able to get a few to land on them to eat.

Phoebe picked out a couple of Sloth souvenirs for her birthday and to remember her Sloth experience.